This is a story about two lovers named Romeo and Juliet who wanted to get married and leave their families because the two families had a feud which continuously kept interrupting their love life. When they tried to do this, there were a lot of challenges which they both had to go through to try and fulfill their dream. Unfortunately, many people died in the process and things got out of hand. The matter was not fully resolved and there was no real happy ending. Overall, peace was restored among the two families but there were many sacrifices which had to go along with the peace which is up to you guys to decide whether or not it was a happy ending.

I find reading the No Fear Shakespeare really helps you understand the play better because its written in modern text on one side and the original on the other. Therefore you get the full Shakespeare experience but you can also fully understand the play.
Having both the original and the translated helps because you can read the original and then if you're having trouble with the words, or the way it's written you can read the other translated side and get a deeper understanding for the play since it's written in a way that you can comprehend. Rating 4 out of 5 stars.
- Fallenangelhushhush of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean play about the tragic and romantic lives of two star crossed lovers whose love proves to be eternal. Although the original writing by Shakespeare is exceptionally beautiful, it can be extremely difficult to understand sometimes. The No Fear Shakespeare books eliminate this problem by including a more modern version right next to the original, which is super helpful. I think that it’s really important for all teenagers to read Shakespeare’s plays at least once! My teacher didn’t teach or assign us this play like you’re supposed to in high school but I decided to read it anyway, and I don’t regret it one bit! I would rate this 4/5 stars.
- @reginaphalange of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Romeo and Juliet is a memorable play about two young lovers from Verona who face obstacles in their course of love due to a feud between their families. It contains a variety of characters whose personalities range from bawdy to innocent; peaceful to hot-headed; and caring to cold. Furthermore, the play is a collection of themes and conflicts revolving around fate, violence, and true love, all of which hold their significance in today’s society. The most admirable element of the play are the poetic dialogues which are filled imagery, oxymora, and puns. Although the play features a great amount of violence and hostility, it makes sure to provide comedic relief through the speech or actions of some characters. Romeo and Juliet is rightfully known for its soliloquies and fast-paced action; it does an excellent job of purging the reader’s emotions. In spite of being written centuries ago, this tale will forever remain relevant because of the messages it conveys. An eternally beautiful and entertaining piece of work. 5/5 Stars
- @VirtueofReading of the Teen Review Board of the Hamilton Public Library

Two feuding families - The Montagues and the Capulets - each have kids, who against all odds fall in love. Together they have to overcome giant obstacles in order to be together, because they would do anything to be together - even die for one another.
Everyone knows of the classic that is Romeo and Juliet and their star crossed love. I had to read this novel for my grade 11 English class and I thought I wasn't going to like it because it was romance; but after reading it I actually really liked it because there was so much more to it then their love story.
- @Fallenangelhushhush of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

With all of his works, I never seem to be not baffled by the true wonders of English. The language, imagery, details, and characters all spin together so beautifully to create masterpieces of our watered-down language today. Romeo and Juliet is a classic of all times, with its conclusion stated in the beginning, only to sink the audience into despair with its colourful arch. The poetry is simply amazing, and one can tell with sonnets that this wasn't just any play back in the earlier times of England and theatre. I do believe, however, that I would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't a "must-read" for school.
- @Siri of the Teen Review Board of the Hamilton Public Library

I've taught this novel 12 times and it never gets old -- there's always something new that's interesting about the motivations, characterizations, or language to point out. For example: Romeo is forever ruled by his passions and emotions but never displays Actual True Love. Juliet proposes to him (!!), arranges nearly 90% of the details! and Romeo still f***s everything up (though I don't use such language in the classroom...). Look at Juliet's long speech before she takes the potion: she lists off 14-18 separate things/situations she's afraid of (depending on how you split them up) and her last statement is Romeo! I drink to thee! As she quaffs it. Between the two title characters, who shows more masculinity, assertiveness, and integrity? I maintain the title should have always been Juliet and Romeo. :)

Romeo and Juliet are young lovers separated by the ancient and enduring hatred between their families.

I didn't realize Romeo and Juliet had a history going back some fifty years prior to Shakespeare's play, first in a 1530 narrative and then in a 1554 novella, both published in Italy. The latter was translated and adapted into French in 1559. The French adaption was translated into English in 1567. That formed the basis for the long narrative poem by Arthur Brooke, The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet, published in 1562, Shakespeare's primary source for his play.

More than any other Shakespeare play I have read, Romeo and Juliet is replete with plays on words, malapropisms, innuendos, and double-entendres, many of which are spoken by Mercutio.

The Pelican edition notes of this play and others I have read, I think, are intrusive and not very useful. In contrast, I find that the Folger Shakespeare Library editions of the Shakespeare plays are useful and avoid being too intrusive.

Summary

Romeo and Juliet love each other. Their parents are rival families. They can't be together, but fight to stay together anyways.

cindy112judy9915
Jun 12, 2012

i also read the translations of the book. in the beginning it already tells us tat romeo and Juliet commit suicide in the end of the story and i have not yet finished the book. romeo meet Juliet at a mask party but they weren't wearing mask's and they made out on the first day they meet. romeo would sneak out at night to Juliet's balcony and they would talk till the sun rises. the continuing u would have to read yourself, tragedy comes when romeo gets abandon and had to leave and Juliet had to fake his death by drinking a vial but she thinks tat there's poison inside and it would kill him.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, and the continuance of their parents' rage, which, but their children's end, nought could remove, is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; the which if you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."